Crime Sheriff: Owner of escaped exotic animals opened cages, then committed suicide

[The Helper]

ZANESVILLE, Ohio — Authorities in Muskingum County say they have recovered most of the exotic animals that were running loose since they were set free, apparently by their owner, last night.

The owner of the exotic animal farm, Terry Thompson, was found dead yesterday in his house. Sheriff Matt Lutz said Thompson apparently opened the cages to release all of the animals, then committed suicide. He died of a gunshot wound. Lutz said Thompson's body was "bothered" by the animals.

Thompson not only opened the cages, but cut the cage wire so the animals would escape again if returned to their cages.

Lutz announced that authorities believe only two animals remain missing this afternoon -- a monkey and a wolf. The sheriff previously said a grizzly bear and mountain lion were missing. Today, authorities confirmed they killed the bear on the property last night. An officer wounded the mountain lion, which staggered into a neighbor's property and died.

Police seek escaped exotic animals in Ohio

ZANESVILLE, Ohio (AP) — A sheriff says exotic animals on the loose in eastern Ohio were set free by their owner, who apparently killed himself on his farm. Muskingum County Sheriff Matt Lutz (loots) …

www.starnewsonline.com

 

[xPass]

Do they really have to kill the exotic animals?

 

[The Helper]

56 exotic animals escaped from farm near Zanesville; 49 killed by authorities

ZANESVILLE, Ohio —Authorities say that in all, 56 exotic animals escaped from a farm in Muskingum County last night, and one could still be missing this afternoon.

Of those animals, 49 were killed. Six animals -- a grizzly bear, three leopards and two monkeys -- were captured alive and taken to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, and a monkey and a grey wolf were at large. The animals that were killed included 18 tigers, nine male lions, eight female lions, six black bears, three mountain lions, two grizzly bears, one baboon and two wolves, Sheriff Matt Lutz said. The escaped monkey poses a danger because it is infected with herpes, the sheriff said.

The sheriff said it is possible that the missing monkey was eaten by a large cat.

The owner of the farm, Terry Thompson, was found dead last night on his property. Authorities say Thompson opened the cage doors and cut the wires on the cages, then killed himself. He died from a gunshot wound. Lutz said Thompson's body was "bothered" by the animals.

More.

 

[Bloodcount]

Why the fuck not use stun guns or those guns that fire shots that make them sleep ? (maybe those are only on tv?)

 

[FireCat]

Do they really have to kill the exotic animals?

No! But they take the easy way out. :thdown:

 

[Accname]

Why the fuck not use stun guns [...]

Those do not work against larger animals. The bigger they get the less effective are these weapons.

More importantly i guess the police man are just not "trained" to hunt animals, these are dangerous if they are threatened and i guess they are confused and can easily be angered because they are set lose in an area unknown to them.
The policeman will certainly want to stay alive and safe and rather sacrifice the lifes of these animals then potentially get any people hurt or even killed.

 

[Azlier]

They did try tranquilizers but intramuscular tranquilizers can take upwards of 20 minutes to kick in and may not actually work. In that time, the animal that was shot could easily escape or cause havoc, possibly getting to a place where it can simply wait out the effects of the tranquilizer. Shooting them is quick, cheap, and effective.

 

[FireCat]

Ever hear of a professional wild animal experts. eh?

Officers were ordered to kill the animals instead of trying to bring them down with tranquillizers for fear that those hit with darts would escape in the darkness before they dropped and would later regain consciousness

Seriously, I find it hard to believe they couldn't tranquilize these animals. But why the hell was this "nuts being allowed to have this poor animals anyway?

 

[Varine]

Ever hear of expensive?

 

[FireCat]

Yeah sure it's expensive but screw it. Hmm, ever hear of "Almost Extinct "Bengal tigers"?

 

[Varine]

Ever hear of smallpox? And don't make up animals, Blazer.